South Africa won their first Under-19 World Cup, comfortably overhauling Pakistan’s lowly 131 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Appearing in their third U19 World Cup final, the Proteas remained unbeaten throughout this year’s tournament thanks to a six-wicket win with 7.5 overs to spare.
Seamer Corbin Bosch undermined Pakistan’s innings with stunning figure of 4-15 from 7.1 overs while there were two scalps apiece for Justin Dill and Yaseen Valli.
Pakistan captain Sami Islam regretted his decision to bat first as his side, who beat England in the last four when South Africa defeated Australia, lost regular wickets to slump to 72 for seven in the 30th over.
Zafar Gohar’s 22 and an unbeaten 37 from Amad Butt gave the score a semblance of respectability, yet Butt ran out of partners with more than five overs to go.
Pakistan, supported by a small Dubain crowd, had brief hope via two early scalps. However, skipper Aiden Markram and Greg Oldfield extinguished that with a third-wicket stand of 71.
Although Oldfield and Yaseen Valli went in consecutive overs, the former on 40 becoming Karamat Ali’s second scalp, Markram was supported to the winning post by Bradley Dial and ended on 66.